Chapter Text
Playing by the rules had never Ziggy Grover’s style. In fact, he could get himself into some real trouble sometimes. But that was years ago. His life as he’d known it was long gone. He’d found a much better use for his time, serv ing as one one of the five Rangers.
Yet he still had a lot to learn and he was up for the challenge. Dr. K seemed to enjoy putting him through his paces, and he enjoyed driving her crazy.
Ziggy was just finishing a more physical exercise and getting changed when Flynn came up to him with an envelope. “What’s this? We gettin’ paid suddenly?” His comment elicited a snort from Dr. K as she was walking by.
“Came for you, mate. Not sure what it’s all about.” Flynn replied.
Ziggy opened the envelope and pulled out the note. He scanned it’s contents once, then twice. Before sitting down hard on the bench. Fresno. He hadn’t purposely thought of that man in a year or two, believing his cartel lackey days were over. The note in his hand suggested that his former boss felt otherwise.
Fresno was requesting a meeting and was “suggesting” that he not refuse. Ziggy’s heart dropped. He knew what would happen if he even thought about associating with the cartels again. He could kiss his Ranger status good bye. He was about to toss the whole thing in the trash when something in the envelope caught his attention. He opened it wider to find a cellphone taken picture of little girl. No, not just a little girl. Little Zaylee, one of the youngest at the group home where he volunteered in his off time, and the same place he’d betrayed the cartels by giving away stolen meds.
He groaned, and crumbled the note, and the envelope. Zaylee’s picture he took to his quarters. He knew he’d have to talk to the others. They had made it clear when joined officially that he wasn’t allowed to keep any secrets, and this would have been a big one, not telling them the cartels are trying to drag him back in. He kicked his locker shut with a bang that echoed in the garage.
“Whoa, Ziggy man… what’s going on?” Scott asked.
“Nothing.” Ziggy would have to come clean eventually, but he would try to solve it himself first in case Fresno had ideas about hurting Zaylee.
“That was an awfully loud “nothing”.” Scott folded his arms. “Come on, what’s really going on?”
Ziggy ran a hand through his curly hair. He weighed his options. Clearly Fresno knew he was a part of something much bigger. He hadn’t said anything in the note about being quiet about it, but that had been an unspoken rule for as long as he could remember. He sighed finally, and turned to Scott. “I’m being called home.” He showed Scott the balled up note.
Scott was quick to scan it. “No one says you have to go. Maybe it got lost on it’s way to you.”
Ziggy shook his head, and pulled out the picture of Zaylee. “Remember her from the group home? He’s holding her hostage. I don’t have a choice here. I can’t let him hurt her.”
Scott paused in organizing his locker. “Ziggy, whatever he wants, it can’t be good. You know that don’t you? We’ll all go.”
Ziggy found himself torn. He knew Fresno wouldn’t take kindly to him bringing his letter to the attention of the Rangers. But he also knew that if things went sideways it would be him against all five Cartels, and as athletic as he’s gotten, he was not that strong. Then there was little Zaylee to think of. If she got hurt in the crossfire, he’d never forgive himself.
“Ziggy?” Scott prompted. “Let’s go, man. I’ll fill the others in on the way. We’ll meet you there.”
Ziggy nodded, clearing his head. Right. There was only one way to do this, and that was together. But they didn’t have to clue Fresno in right away. He pulled on his jacket and made sure that his morpher was at the ready. He wasn’t the same old Ziggy that Frezno knew. He was Ranger Operator Series Green. And he would get Zaylee out of there.
#
Zaylee had not been an easy mark. It seemed that the group homes in Corinth were as protective as any other place, but Fresno had anaged to have someone from another cartel sneak in and grab her.
Currently, she was playing in what ultimately was a glorified prison. It was filled with age appropriate toys for the four-year-old to play with. For the most part, it was keeping her quiet. But it hadn’t started that way. She’d thrown an incredibly disruptive tantrum at first. The toys, and some veiled threats, however, seemed to calm her down.
Fresno paced, waitin to hear from his former protege turned traitor. Ziggy would most definitely come. He had a soft spot for those damned orphans. So much so, he’d betrayed the cartels. Which is what had brought them to this point. He glanced at his wrist watch as he heard some loud car motors. So choosing not to come alone? Fresno smirked to himself. He turned to one of the other cartel members. “Bring me Zaylee.”
When she arrived in the foyer, the little girl was clutching a toy. It was a small thing, a customized spring toy that,if you knew where to look, you’d see a Z.G. engraved on it. One of Ziggy’s fidget majigs, Fresno guessed. That boy always had to have something in his hands, it seemed.
Zaylee looked up at Fresno, her tiny face full of a mixture of curiosity and fear. She whimpered when he started to pick her up. He boredly soothed her by handing her the confounding spring toy. Then, he heard the doors open. “Let’s see how much you’re truly worth to your buddy Ziggy, shall we?” He said to the girl as he stroked her hair with false kindness.